Shoe bottom filling machine



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SHOE BOTTOM FILLING MACHINE l2 Sheets-Sheet 11 Filed April 13, 1950 I7221a: tons: Erml 11/. Tilomflfl Atts,

Filed April l3,'1950 12 Sheets-Sheet 12 I p 2611950 E. M. THOMPSON ET AL2,523,886

SHOE BOTTOM FILLING MACHINE YR n.

Errol JV, 7720772 115072, lrroZM Tllam vsoiz, J1,

J" jzz Patented Sept. 26, 1950 UNITED SHOE BOTTOM FILLING MACHINE ErrolM. Thompson, Brockton, and Errol M. Thompson, Jr., Na'tick, Mass.

Application April 13, 1950; Serial No. 155,698

19 Claims.

This invention relates to shoe bottom filling machines, and pertainsmore particularly to improvements in automatic apparatus for ejectingfrom a well or chamber containing suitable plastic bottom fillingmaterial, a preformed filler biscuit, depositing the biscuit in thebottom cavity of a lasted shoe, and compressing the biscuit to fill theshoe bottom cavity.

The principal purpose of the invention is to provide an efficient andrelatively economical machine of this type which will automaticallyperform the successive operations in a single cycle and which willcomplete the bottom filling procedure satisfactorily and rapidly, withminimum personal care or attention, once the cycle has been started byan operator of the machine.

More specifically, it is an object of this inven tion to providemanually adjustable means for varying the thickness of the ejectedbiscuit, while maintaining constant the outline or periphery of thebiscuit, whereby the machine may be used to eject biscuits ofpredetermined volume capable of correctly filling shoe bottom cavitiesof variable depths and contours, as well as variable lengths or sizes,as regulated by the preset adjustment of the machine.

Another object is to provide a movable support for the forepart of thelasted shoe, and means timed to the operative cycle of the machine forelevating the supported shoe to biscuit receiving position, and finallyto biscuit compressing position, while the shoe is held by the operatorin proper position on the movable support.

A further object is to provide a bottom filling machine having a well orchamber for receiving a quantity of the plastic filling material;compressor members disposed in the filler chamber, at least one of saidmembers being movable, for compressing and, preferably, partiallyshaping a portion of the filler to biscuit form; and a verticallyreciprocable ejector-knife adjustably supported in said Well, wherebyits vertical position with respect to a delivery outlet in the bottom oithe chamber may be regulated to eject a filler biscuit of predeterminedvolume through said outlet. Thus, the thickness of a biscuit compressedbetween the compressor members and beneath the ejector-knife, andejected through said delivery opening by depressing the knife, may beregulated as aforesaid by setting the knife-adjusting mechanism at theproper position, prior to the operation of the machine.

Another object is to equip the bottom of the filler chamber with aslidable cover plate or gate valve having a discharge orifice or portmovable into substantial registration with said delivery outlet-at theproper phase of the machine cycle,

in time with the movement of the movable compressor member and thereciprocating ejectorknife, so that the ejected biscuit of compressedfiller may be deposited in the shoe cavity as soon as the outline of thebiscuit has been finally formed by forcing it through the outlet of thechamber bottom.

It is also an object of the invention to provide an outlet plateremovably and replaceably inserted in the well bottom and having anoutlet opening therethrough, so that said apertured plate defines thecontour of the formed filler biscuit ejected therethrough, and alsoconstitutes a pressure plate against which the shoe bottom may bepressed to receive the deposited biscuit. Pressure plates havingopenings of different sizes may thus be used interchangeably, ifdesired, corresponding valve plates and knife sizes being substitutedwhen the pressure plate is changed.

Other features of the improved machine will be apparent from thefollowing description of the preferred embodiments of the inventionshown in the accompanying drawings, and will be pointed out in theappended claims. stood, however, that the structural details of theapparatus herein illustrated and described may be modified to suitparticular conditions or purposes, without departing from the essence ofthis invention as defined in said claims.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of one form of the improved machine, withparts broken away, showing the mechanism in the position of rest;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the machine, partly broken away and omittingthe hopper shown in Fig. 1 for delivering bottom filling material to thewell or chamber of the machine;

Fig. 3 is an end view looking to the left of Fig. 1, showing a lastedshoe resting on the shoe support and against a toe guide;

Fig. 3a is a fragmentary view of the bottom of the frame shown in Fig.3;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary section of the forepart of a lasted shoe,showing the cavity tobe filled;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of a biscuit of bottom filling material, of thetype ejected by the machine;

Fig. 6 is a section taken on line 6-fi of Fig. 5;

Fig; 7 is a view similar to Fig. 4, showing the biscuit deposited in thebottom cavity of the lasted shoe;

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. '7, taken on line 88 of Fig. 9, showingthe biscuit compressed to fill the bottom cavity;

Fig. 9 is a bottom view of the lasted shoe, showing in full lines thecompressed biscuit as in Fig. 8, and indicating in broken lines theposition of the uncompressed biscuit as in Fig. 7;

It will be under-- Fig. is a side elevation of the lasted shoe of Fig.9, partly in section on line iEllEl of Fig. 9, showing the compressedbiscuit in full lines and the uncompressed biscuit in broken lines;

Fig. 11 is a chart describing successive phases of the machine cycle andindicating the position or movement of the essential parts of theoperative mechanism at each phase;

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary section taken on line l2-l2 of Fig. 2, showingthe essential biscuit forming and ejecting mechanism of the machine,certain parts being shown in partial elevation, and other parts beingomitted for the sake of clarity;

Fig. 13 is a detail transverse section on line l3l3 of Fig. 12;

Fig.14 is a detail transverse section on line |4|4ofFig.12;

Fig. 15 is a detail transverse section on line l5|5 of Fig. 12, alsoshowing the lasted shoe in broken lines and illustrating the shoesupport partly in section and partly broken away, and indicating thesuccessive positions of the support in broken lines;

Fig. 16 is a fragmentary longitudinal section on line l6-l6 of 12;

Fig. 17 is a view similar to Fig. 12, showing the position of themovable parts in the first stage of the cycle of operation;

Fig. 18 is an enlarged, fragmentary view of the central portion of theapparatus as shown in Fig. 17;

Fig. 19 is a top perspective view of a movable cover plate or gatevalve, slidable in the bottom of the machine;

Fig. 20 is a view similar to Fig. 12, showing the position of the partsin a successive stage of the cycle;

Fig. 21 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the central portion of Fig.20;

Fig. 22 is a view similar to Fig. 12, showing the position of the partsin the next stage of the cycle;

Fig. 23 is an enlarged fragmentary View of the central portion of Fig.22;

Fig. 24 is a view similar to Fig. 12, showing the position of the partsin the final stage of the cycle;

Fig. 25 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the central portion of theapparatus shown in Fig. 24, and also illustrating in section theforepart of the lasted shoe pressed against the delivery outlet of thechamber, with its bottom cavity filled with the compressed biscuit;

Fig. 26 is a view similar to Fig. 17, showing a modified form of thebiscuit compressing and ejecting apparatus, certain parts being brokenaway, and other parts being shown partly in section; and

Fig. 27 is a detailed, fragmentary view of parts of the apparatusillustrated in Fig. 26, showing a different adjusted position of saidparts.

In the recommended embodiment chosen for the .purpose of illustration inFigs. 1 to 25, the shoe bottom filling machine is designed for use witha hot type of plastic, cork filling material of a relatively coarse anddry consistency (as contrasted with a wet, dense filler made ofrelatively fine particles) and is equipped with heating elements andthermal insulation, as hereinafter described. It will be understood,however, that the improved machine may be utilized with cold bottomfillers of the proper consistency, if desired, and that any suitablyplastic types of bottom filling material, of the nature now commonlyemployed for this purpose, may be used for filling shoe bottoms inaccordance with this invention.

The filler which applicants recommend for use in this machine is a hot,plastic, ground cork composition, with relatively large cork particleswhich is moldable under pressure and not excessively moist or fluid inconsistency, such as the cork filler now commonly applied by hand to thebottoms of lasted shoes prepared for attachment of an outsole, accordingto the well known Goodyear welt process.

The insoles of such shoes are commonly formed with upstanding lips orflanges, providing sewing ribs to which the welt is conventionallystitched; and the space or cavity bordered by the sewing ribs or lips atthe forepart of the shoe is desirably occupied by a filler of plasticcomposition or sheet material, so that the outsole may be leveledagainst the shoe bottom. The volume of the space to be thus filleddepends upon the height of the sewing ribs and the area bordered therebyat the forepart of the lasted shoe, and the regulation of the thicknessof the filler biscuit deposited in the bottom cavity by the improvedmachine is dependent upon these factors, rather than upon the length orsize of the shoe.

As will be apparent hereinafter, each filler biscuit deposited by theimproved machine may have the same peripheral contour, but may vary inthickness according to the adjustment of the extent of upward movementof the vertically reciprocated ejector-knife. The outlet openingdefining the contour of the biscuit is preferably slightly smaller thanthe periphery of the bottom cavity of the smallest shoe which is to bebottom filled by the machine, which first deposits the preformed biscuitand then compresses and spreads I, finally setting forth the operationof the machine.

The machine at rest As shown in Figs. 1 to 3 of the drawings, theimproved machine comprises an upright frame 30 of steel or othersuitable material, adapted to be mounted on the floor of a shoe factory;a bed or base plate 32 suitably fixed on the top of the frame 30 andextending beyond the ends of the frame, the projecting ends at least ofthe base plate, being of heavy metal to support operative mechanismmounted thereon or carried thereby; a shelf 34 pivoted at 36 in brackets38 attached to the underside of one projecting end of the base plate,the opposite end of the shelf being adjustably connected to the rearmargin of the base plate by a coupling 40 (Fig. 3) an electric motor 442 mounted beneath the shelf 34 and operatively connected by a belt 44to the pulley of a gear box 46 which is mounted on top of a rearwardprojection of the base plate and which drives a cam shaft 48 extendingtransversely of the base plate and journaled in bearings 50 and 52 onsaid plate; rotation of the cam shaft being controlled by clutchmechanism 268; another supporting shelf 54 carried by the opposite endof the base plate and mounting a cam shaft 56 in journals 58 and 60,respectively, parallel to the shaft 48; a sprocket chain 62 operativelyconnecting sprockets on the respective shafts; and apparatus mounted onthe central portion of the base plate and comprisinga casing andassociated mechanism for receiving plastic filling material, forming abiscuit therefrom, and ejecting the biscuit through an outlet in thebase plate, in a timed cycle, as a result of the operation of the camscarried by the shafts 48 and 56 as hereinafter explained.

The central portion of the base plate is cut away to provide a rabbetedopening at 64 (Fig. 1) for the reception of a removable pressure plate66 which is slidable transversely into said opening and guided by therabbete'd edges of the base plate at the sides of said opening or slot.The plate be has an opening 68 therethrough of a contour defining theshape of the filler biscuit to be ejected from the machine and depositedon the shoe bottom, and the bottom of said plate is preferably concavedat around the periphery of said outlet opening 68 as best shown in Fig.18. A toe stop or guide I2 is attached to the bottom of the pressureplate 65, rearwardly of the outlet opening 68. Several such plates, withopenings of varying size or contour, may be provided for selective usein the machine, when desired.

A shoe support comprising a resilient cushion member 14 in a holder "I6is disposed beneath the outlet opening 68, the holder I6 being mountedon a rod I8 which is vertically slidable in suitable bearings ofbrackets 80 and 82 carried by the frame 33. The rod 13 is normally urgeddownwardly by a spring M connected to the frame near its bottom, and ismoved upwardly against the resistance of the spring 84 by a Pitman arm38, pivoted to a bracket at 83. One end of the arm 86 is pivotallyconnected to the rod through a slidable coupling 99 to the rod 78, andan opposite extension 22 of the arm or lever is actuated by a cam orshaft 43 as hereinafter described. A coil compression spring 94surrounds the rod It between the coupling 3!! and a fixed nut 96, sothat upward movement of the rod is effected through the spring 34 whichcompresses to afford resilient pressure when the shoe support or rest I4presses the lasted shoe against the bottom of the pressure plate 64, asexplained below.

The apparatus for receiving and compressing the plastic filler comprisesa generally rectangular casing erected on the base plate 32 and havingfront and rear sides 98 and I00, respectively, bolted or otherwisesecured to the plate 32, and top plates H32 and I64 fastened to the sideplates at the opposite ends of the box-like compartment formed by saidside plates (Figs. 12-14). Said side plates and the top plate I I32 arepreferably covered with thermal insulation I06, such as sheet corkmaterial. A hopper I08 also covered with thermal insulation H3 issuitably mounted on said side plates, between the opposed ends of thetop plates I32 and I34, for delivering hot plastic filling material to achamber II 2 (Fig. 12) in the central portion of the casing formed bysaid side plates. 7 has a flange H4 resting on the inner end of topplate m2, and the opposite side of the hopper delivery outlet isprovided with a depending defiector plate IIfi to prevent thecompressed. filler in the chamber II2 from being squeezed out of the topof the chamber to the right of the hopper as shown in Fig. 1.

The ends of the filler chamber M2 are defined, in part, by the innerfaces of a pair of compressor members, such as the slidable blocks orpistons I I8 and I20, respectively. As best shown in Figs. 12 to 13, thecompressor block II 8, at the left of the machine as illustrated isslidable between the side. plates 98 .and I00, on a dove-tailed guideI22 The bottom of the hopper I mounted on the underside of the top.plate I02. Said block has an outwardly communicating longitudinalopening I24, defined by the top, bottom, side and inner end wallsthereof, and a bar I25 extends across said opening or recess near itsinner end. The block I20, hereinafter called a forming block or piston,at the right of the machine as illustrated, also slides between the sideplates 98 and I03 on a dove-tailed guide I23, fastened to the top plateI34; and this bar has a similar outwardly communicating recess I3ll inwhich a cross bar I32 is fixed. The two cornpressor blocks are thusslidable toward and from each other within the casing formed by the bedplate 32, the side plates 98 and IMI, and the respective top plates I32and IE4.

Aseparate bottom plate I34 is provided in the left hand portion of thecasing, as illustrated, between the bed .plate 32 and the block orpiston II8, said bottom plate being fixed in stationary position byfastenings ezltending through the side plates 98 and 130, as indicatedin Fig. 13. The inner end of the bottom plate I34 is curved at I36, tocorrespond with the curvature of one side of the outlet opening 68 inthe underlying pressure plate 66; and said bottom plate is fixed in suchposition that its curved end I36, which constitutes a biscuit-formingmember, registers with the left half of the contour of said opening 68,as shown in the drawings, particularly Fig. 18.

The compressor block IIBslides on top of the bottom plate I34.

A sliding cover plate or gate valve I33 is disposed between the baseplate 32 and the bottom plate I34, at the left of the machine, andbetween the base plate and the sliding block I29 at the right 'of themachine, as illustrated. Said plate has a discharge port or orifice I40therethrough, the size of said port being no smaller than that of theoutlet opening 63, and preferably of the same contour. The shape of thatopening is indicated in Fig. 19, and also by the shape of the fillerbiscuit illustrated in Fig. 5, which is ejected through the valveorifice I48 and the outlet opening 68. The sliding plate I38 has a fixedbottom bracket I42 which slides in a longitudinal slot I 35 of the baseplate 32 (Fig. 12). The outer end of the bracket I42 extends beyond theedge of said plate and carries a roller I44 and a hook I46 whichconstitute a part of the means for moving thevalve plate I35longitudinally of the casing of the machine, below the sliding blocksand across the bottom of the intermediate filler chamber II2. The portI43 is so disposed that it may be brought into registration with theoutlet opening 68, or moved to one side thereof (to the left as shown inFigs. 12 and 17) so that the outlet is closed by the plate I 33. Theplate may be removed and replaced with a plate with a port of differentsize.

The inner end of the compressor block I29 has a curved face I43,corresponding in contour to theright half of the outlet opening 63 andof the opening I43 in thegate valve I38, so that said block constitutes,in part, a biscuit-forming element, in co-operation with the curved endor wall I35 of the bottom plate I34, when the block 251 is moved to itsinwardmost position as shown in Figs. 16, 24 and 25. A dove-tailedupright guide member IE0 is fastened to the central portion of thecurved face I48 of the biscuit-forming block I23 (Fig. 16) andconstitutes guiding means for the slide I52 which carries at its bottoma removable and replaceable ejector-knife I54.

The ejector-knife has a peripheral contourcorresponding in shape to thecontour of the outlet opening 68, the knife being slightly smaller thansaid openings so that it may pass therethrough, when the openings are inregistration, to eject a formed filler biscuit through the bottom of thechamber II2, when the ejector-knife is vertically reciprocated by movingthe slide I52 on the dove-tailed guide I50. The forward edge andopposite sides of the knife are beveled at I55, to provide a cuttingedge (Fig. 16). The top of the slide I52 has a coupling I58 forattachment of a lever I00, pivoted in a bracket I62 mounted on the blockI20 and movable in a slot I54 of the top plate I04, whereby the slideI52 and the ejector-knife I54 are vertically reciprocated in the chamberH2 by movement of the pivoted lever I65.

The ejector-knife, its guide I52, and actuating lever I60 thus movelongitudinally of the casing together with the block I20 when the latteris actuated. Said block has an outward extension IE6 carrying a rollerI58, engageable by a cam as hereinafter described.

Means are provided for regulating the extent of upward movement of theejector-knife I54, during reciprocation of the guide I52, said meanscomprising a steel wedge member I10, slidable transversely of themachine on a platform I12 erected on posts I14 on the projecting end ofthe base plate at the right of the machine as illustrated. Movement ofthe wedge is guided by bottom bolts orstuds I16 which ride in a slot I18of said platform, and is actuated by a lever arm I60 connected to one ofsaid bolts and to a crank I82 pivoted at I84 and having a handle I88.The handle preferably has an index member I88 movable across a curvedflange I90 at the forward end I02 of the platform I12, whereby thesliding adjustment of the wedge I may be indicated by a number scale orthe like on said flange. The numbers on the scale are intended toindicate to the operator the proper setting of the handle I86, accordingto the desired thickness of the filler biscuit to be formed in andejected from the machine through the openings above described.

The outer end I94 of the pivoted lever I60 carries a roller I86engageable with the inclined top surface of the wedge I10, when theslide I52 is in uppermost position, so that the upward limit of theposition of the ejector-knife I54 is limited by the setting of the wedgeI10.

Longitudinal movement of the compressor blocks, the sliding valve plateI38 and the shoe support lever 85--92 is actuated by cam members on theshafts 48 and 55, driven by the motor 42, as aforesaid. The cams onshaft 48 include a front cam I88 bearing against a roller 200 at the endof the lever arm 92, for elevating the shoe support 14; a middle cam 202engageable with a roller 204 on the lever I60 which verticallyreciprocates the ejector-knife, as aforesaid; and a rear cam 206 whichengages the roller I58 carried by the outer extension of thebiscuit-forming block I20. The roller 200 is held against the edge ofcam I98 by action of the return spring 84 of the shoe support rod 18;the roller I68 is held against the edge of the cam 206 by a spring 208attached at one end to the bar I32 in the socket of the block I20 and,at its other end, to a hook 2 II] at the right end of the base plate asshown in Fig. 1; and the roller 204 is held against the edge of the cam202 by a spring 2I2, attached to the outward extension I94 of the leverI60, and to a stud 2 I4 extending from the bracket 38, as shown in Fig.1, except when the roller I96 rests upon the wedge I10 as shown in Fig.17.

The cams carried by the shaft 56 at the left of the illustrated machineinclude a front cam 2I6 which engages the roller I44 of the bracket I42on the sliding gate valve I38; and a rear cam 2 l8 which engages aroller 220 on a lever 222 having its lower end pivoted at 224 to abracket 226 on the bottom of the shelf 54, the upper end of said leverbeing pivoted at 228 to a link 230 pivotally connected at 232 to anextension 234 of the compressor block IE8. The roller I44 is held inengagement with the edge of cam 2I6 by a spring 235 connected at one endto the hook I46 on bracket I42 and at its opposite end to a stud 238 onan extension of the shelf 54; and the roller 220 is held in engagementwith the edge of cam 2I8 by a spring 240 attached at one end to thecross bar 2I5 in the socket of block H8, and at its opposite end to astud 242 on another extension 244 of the shelf or platform 54.

The several movable parts of the biscuit forming, ejecting andcompressing mechanism are thus individually actuated by cams operatingagainst the resistance of springs which normally urge said parts toinoperative position as shown in Fig. l. The cams are so shaped as tocontrol the movement of the several parts in timed sequence during theoperative cycle of the machine, so that no other adjustment or controlis necessary during the cycle.

The hot plastic filling material dumped into the chamber E I2 throughthe hopper I I0 is maintained at proper temperature within theinsulating casing on the base plate 32 by heating elements such as theelectric heating units 246 and 248 mounted on the bottom of said plateand suitably connected to a source of current. A thermostatic switchelement 250 (Fig. 1) in the circuit of the motor 42 is preferablymounted on top of the casing and constitutes a control switch whichprevents the operation of the motor when the temperature in the casingor chamber I I2 is below the desired temperature of the fillingmaterial. As this switch forms no part of the present invention, itsstructural details and connections are unimportant.

Function of the machine The improved machine operates to form and ejecta filler biscuit 252 (Figs. 5 and 6) having a contour defined by theoutlet opening 68 and a thickness regulated by the adjusted maximumheight of the ejector-knife, and to deposit the ejected biscuit in thecentral portion of a bottom cavity 254 (Fig. 4) of a lasted shoe 256having an insole 258 formed with the upstanding sewing ribs or lips 250which define the cavity at the forepart of the shoe. After the biscuitis deposited, the shoe bottom is pressed more firmly against theconcaved surface of the pressure plate 66, and further downward travelof the ejector-knife then compresses and spreads the biscuit 252 (Fig.I) until it completely fills the forepart cavity, as shown at 262 (Figs.8 to 10).

The biscuit of compressed filling material is partially formed betweenthe forming faces I36 of the bottom plate I84 and I40 or" the formingblock I20, respectively, when the compressor blocks are moved towardeach other to compress the filler in the bottom of the chamber H2 andsqueeze it beneath the ejector-knife I54, the cutting edge I56 of whichslices through the compressed filler to define the top of the biscuit.When the knife has moved to a position immeasaaeee diately above theou-tlet opening 68, the port MB of thegate valve. l-381hasbeen moved toa position in registration with said outlet 68, and'the block I20 hascome to rest. The knife then moves downwardly to eject the formed:biscuit through said port and outlet. opening and into the shoe bottomcavity 258, While the ribs 26,!) lightly engage the bottom of thepressure plate 66. At this moment, the cushion M. of. the shoe supportis at the position indicated: by the broken line 26 (Figs. 12 andFurther movement of the operative mechanism causes the foot support tobe elevated to the position indicated by the broken line 2.66, therebypressing the shoe bottom against the pressure plate, and furtherdepresses the ejector-knife I54 to compress and spread the depositedbiscuit, as aforesaid.

It will be. understood that, prior to the operation. of. the machine,the forepart of the lastedshoe is placed on the support 74, with the toeof the shoe engaging the toe guide '52, while the shoe support is in.the position indicated in full lines in. Figs. 1, 12 and 15. The rearpart of the shoe is grasped by the hand of the operator, to hold theforepart bottom in substantially horizontal position for properengagement with. the pressure plate when the shoe support is thereafterelevated.

Operation of the machine,

To start the machine, the operator engages the motor clutch 268, whichmay be a standard pintype clutch member, by pressing his foot upon thetreadle Zillto actuate the clutch control rod 2-12. (Figs. 3 and 3A)which is suitably connected with the clutch mechanism. A return spring214 connected to the pedal 27!) and to the frame 3!! normally holds theactuating rod 2'52 in inoperative position. Engagement of the clutchcauses the drive shafts 4.8 and 56 to rotate at a uniform rate, therebyrotating the cam drives above described The successive phases of thecycle of operation,

are diagrammatically outlined in. Fig. 11 starting with the machine atrest, as shown in Figs. 1 to 3 and 12. Successive stages, showing therelationshipof the essential parts during the cycle of operation, areillustrated in Figs. 17', 20, 22 and 24.

In Fig. 12, the shoe support is in its lowermost position, to receivethe lasted shoe inserted by the operator; the delivery outlet 63 isclosed by a portion of the cover plate or gate valve I38 and by thepartially depressed ejector-knife I54 which rests on top of said plate;and the respective compressor blocks rest at their most outwardpositions.

In Fig. 17, the foot rest has been moved upward to the positionindicated at 2% (Figs. 12 and 15) to hold the shoe in filler receivingposition; the outlet 68 is closed by the cover plate or valve; bothcompressor blocks have been moved to the right of the machine asillustrated; and the ejector-knife has also been moved to the right andas moved upward, dropping the end I 94 of the lever H50 so that theroller 19E rests on the wedge Hi]. It will be understood that the wedgehas previously been set to an adjusted position predeterm ning thethickness of the filler biscuit to be formed and deposited.

In Fig. 20, the shoe rest remains in its previous position; the outletis still closed by the cover plate; the left compressor block H8 hasmoved to its extreme forward position; the right compressor block I29has reversed its movement and the compressed material to form the top ofthe biscuit.

In Fig. 22, the position of the shoe rest has not changed; the coverplate or gate valve is mov-- ing to the right, to bring its orifice I40over the delivery outlet 68; the biscuit forming block I20 has reachedits inwardmost position; the other.

compressor block H8 is moving to the left; and the elector-knife isdisposed over the outlet opening, with its forward cutting edgesubstantially registering with the curved edge of the biscuit formingplate ['34, thereby completing the formation of the biscuit 25-2 ofcompressed filler material. The biscuit is now ready to be ejected, as.soon. as the gate valve has fully opened.

In Fig. 24, the shoe support has been elevated to press the shoe bottomagainst the pressure plate 6.6, thereby slightly compressing theresilient pad M (Fig. 25); the valve plate I38 is in fully openedposition; the. pos tion of the biscuitforming block I29 has not changed;the compressor block H8 has moved to its extreme outward position, orposition of rest; and the ejectorknife has been depressed by action ofthe cam 292 on the. lever arm 68, to eject the formed biscuit (Fig. 24),deposit it in the shoe cavity and compress and spread the biscuit tofill the cavity asindicated at 282 in Fig. 25.

In the remaining phas of the cycle, the parts are. restored" to theposition of Fig. 12; the clutch is disengaged byremoving pressure on thetreadle 27.6, and the lasted and filled shoe is removed by 1 theoperator, who may insert another shoe and then repeat the cycle ofoperation. It will be observed that the operation of the machine iscompleted in a single, automatic cycle, without attention on the part ofthe operator except to maintain pressure on the clutch treadle and holdthe shoe against displacement from its proper position on the support TMand in the toe guide 12. It will also be understood that there is noneed for ironing the plastic filling material which has been compressedin the shoe bottom cavity, after the filled shoe has been removed fromthe machine. I

The cycle of operation is completed very rapidly, normally within oneand one-quarter seconds, so that the machine will fill the bottoms of avery large number of shoes during a days working hours. Inasmuch as theactuation of the moving parts of the machine is performed solely by camelements, the use of complicated gearing has been avoided.

Modifications in the machine As previously explained, the compressormembers i la and I26 of the machine shOWn in Figs. 1 to 25' are bothmovable and are associated with the stationary forming plate I34disposed at one side of the outlet in the well bottom; and the gatevalve or plate I38 is independently slidable between the plate I34 andthe base plate 32 of the machine. This machine works very satisfactorilywhen the filler material is sufficiently coarse and dry to feed downwithout clogging or balling up; but when the filler is relatively fineand wet and more plastic, so that it packs in a dense mass underpressure, the efficiency of the machine is somewhat impaired by cloggingof the gummy material in the chamber II2. This clogging tendency wouldbe obviated by eliminating the forming plate I34, fixing the formingblock I28 in stationary position at the edge of the outlet opening 68(as in Fig. 22), and sliding the compressor block H8 directly on thevalve plate I38; but we prefer to use the modified machine shown inFigs. 26 and 27 when filling shoe bottoms with a relatively wet fillercomposition composed of finer cork particles which tend to pack togethermore solidly in a dense mass.

The modified machine is similar in construction, function and operationto the machine heretofore described in detail, except for the structuralchanges indicated in Figs, 26 and 27, and the elimination of certainparts as hereinafter explained. The bed plate of the modified machine isthe same as the bed plate 32 of the machine of Figs. 1 to 25, and is sodesignated in Figs. 26 and 27. The pressure plate 66 is also the same aspreviously described, and is slidab ly fitted to the rabbeted opening ofthe bed plate in the same manner. The shoe pad M and holder 16 are alsoconstructed and arranged as previously explained, beneath the deliveryoutlet 68 and near the toe guide I2. Cam shafts 348 and 356 of themodified machine, correspond in general arrangement and purpose to thecam shafts 48 and 56, respectively, of the previous machine. Anadjustable wedge member 318 corresponds in construction, purpose andmode of actuation to the wedge member I18 heretofore described.

The pressure plate 66 has the outlet opening 68 conforming, asaforesaid, to the contour of the biscuit to be ejected from the machineand deposited in the shoe bottom as indicated in Fig. 25. A slidingvalve plate 338 having the valve port 348, is arranged to slide over thebase plate 32 and pressure plate 66, so that the port 348 may registerwith the outlet opening 68, in a manner similar to the operation ofvalve I38 of the first machine. Plate 338 is, however, attacheddirectly, as by screws or other fastenings, to a sliding compressorblock 3I8 (Fig. 26) which corresponds in purpose to, but differs in sizeand shape from the block II 8 heretofore described.

Block 3I8 slides in a casing as aforesaid and over the bottom of thechamber 3I2 between the side walls of the chamber (the rear wall of thecasing being indicated at 388) and beneath a guide block 322 whichconstitutes a part of one end of the chamber 3I2. The block 3I8 isactuated by a lever 338 pivotally connected by a link 332 to a bracketon said block, the arm 338 being hinged on a fixed pivot 336, andcarrying a roller 338 engaging the cam 358 on the shaft 356. The blockis normally retracted to the open position shown in full lines in Fig.26 by a spring which acts in a manner similar to the spring 248 of theprevious machine. Actuation of the cam 358 causes the block to be movedfrom the full lineposition of Fig. 26 to the broken line positionthereof, and back, during one cycle of operation of the machine.

At the opposite end of the Well 3I2, the block 328 is fixed instationary position between the side walls of the chamber. The innerface 352 of said block is formed as a curved recess, so that excessfiller material moved toward said face by movement of the block 3I8 willtend to be moved upwardly and backwardly into the well. The inner edgeof the bottom of the block 328 may be shaped to conform to the contourof, and

register with, the outlet opening 63; but this curvature is notessential to the operation. of the modified machine.

An ejector-knife 354, similar in form and purpose to the knife I54 ofthe previous machine, is arranged to be reciprocated toward and from theoutlet 68 in the bottom of the well 3i2. In the modified machine, theknife is attached to a rod or plunger 368 slidable vertically inbearings 362 of a sleeve 334 attached to a plate 363 fixed betweencorresponding brackets 368 suitably mounted in upright position on thewall of the machine as indicated at 318. The upper end of rod 368 ispivotally connected at 3'12 to a rocker arm 314 hinged at 376 in thebracket 358 and pivotally connected at its opposite end 318 to a sleeve388 slidable in an opening in the plate 366. The rod 368 may be hollowto receive an elongate heating unit (not shown) for heating the knife354, if desired.

A rod 382 is adjustably mounted in the sleeve 388 and carries at itslower end a roller 388 engaging a cam 382 on the shaft 348. The cam 382corresponds in purpose to the cam 282 of the previous machine. Hence,actuation of the cam 382 lifts the push rod 382 and its sleeve 388, thusrocking the arm 378 and depressing the rod or shaft 368 to move theejector-knife 354 downwardly from the full line position to the brokenline position of Fig. 26. In such movement, the knife passes through theport 348 in the valve plate 338 and through the outlet opening 68 in thepressure plate 85, thereby ejecting the compressed filler materialthrough the outlet and into the bottom cavity of the lasted shoesupported upon the rest M.

The extent of upward movement of the knife 354 is adjustable in a mannersimilar to that previously explained, but in the modified apparatus, theroller 398 bearing on the wedge 318, is carried by a rod 392 threaded ina cross head 38 2 fastened to the push rod 382. The cross head and pushrod are constantly urged downwardly so that the roller 384 engages thecam 382 by a spring 396 on a rod 398 passing through the cross head andfixed in a stationary bar 488. The bar is mounted on posts 882 fixedlymounted on the machine and preferably extending above the bar 482 toserve as guides for the cross head. The spring 396 thus holds theadjusting rod 392 so that its roller bears on the wedge 318 when thecross head is in its lowermost position and also holds the push rodroller on the cam. When the push rod is in its uppermost position, asindicated by the broken lines in Fig. 26, the adjusting roller 388 islifted above the wedge member.

The edges of the cam 358 and 382 are so arranged that the movable partsof the modified apparatus will operate in time sequence to move thecompressor block 3I8 to the dotted line position of Fig. 26, thereby tocompress the filling material beneath the elevated knife 354 andsimultaneously move the valve plate 338 until its port 348 is directlyabove the outlet 68; then to depress the ejector-knife while block 3I8remains in its forwardmost position, thereby ejecting a filler biscuitthrough the outlet and into the shoe bottom cavity; then to depress theknife further to compress the filler material in the bottom cavity; andfinally to elevate the knife to the full line position of Fig. 26.

A different, adjusted position of the ejector knife and its actuatingand adjusting mechanism is illustrated in the fragmentary View of Fig.27. In that view, the wedge 318 has been moved to elevate the adjustingrod 392 and rocker arm 394, thereby moving the rocker arm 314 and therod 362 to lower the position of the ejector-knife 354,. so that thethickness of a filler biscuit is compressed beneath the knife in theposition of Fig. 26. It will be observed that, in Fig. 27, the roller384 at the bottom of the push rod 382 has been moved away from the cam302; but that when the cam is rotated to the broken line position of thefigure, it will then engage the roller 384 and elevate the push rod todepress the knife 354 and eject the filler biscuit. It will beunderstood that the upper limit of movement of the knife may be adjustedto intermediate position by varying the movement of the wedge 3113 inthe manner previously explained.

It is thus apparent that the modified machine shown in FigsQZG and 27functions in accordance with the basic principles of operation of themachine illustrated in Figs. 1 to 25, to achieve the desired result bysubstantially similar means. One machine or the other will worksatisfactorily, whether the plastic filler is of a coarse or fineconsistency. The coarse filler, composed of relatively large corkparticles in a relatively dry plastic mass, should be compressed andformed into a biscuit in a machine of the type illustrated in Figs. 1 to25', before the biscuit is ejected through the delivery outlet. The fineor dense filler, consisting of relatively small cork particles in arelatively moist and gummy plastic mass, need not be formed into abiscuit before its ejection. but should be compressed in a machine, likethat of Figs. 26 and 27, which has fewer moving parts in the fillerchamber, so that the mechanism will not become clogged by the moist,gummy material.

We claim:

1. A shoe bottom filling machine comprising a chamber for receivingplastic bottom filling mate rial, the chamber having side walls and abottom provided with a delivery outlet, rheans for intermittentlyopening and closing said outlet, an ejector member movable downwardlyand upwardly in said chamber toward and from said outlet to eject abiscuit of said material through the open outlet, means for successivelyelevating and depressing said ejector member with respect to the chamberbottom, a compressor member movable longitudinally between the sides ofthe chamber, and means for moving said compressor member to compress thematerial in said chamber beneath said ejector member while the latter isin elevated position.

2. A shoe bottom filling machine as described in claim 1, havingmanually adjustable means for limiting the extent of upward movement ofthe ejector member, whereby a filler biscuit of predetermined thicknessis ejected through said outlet by downward movement of said ejectormemher after the material beneath it has been compressed.

3. A shoe bottom filling machine as described in claim 1, having a shoesupport disposed beheath said chamber bottoman'd movable toward and fromsaid outlet, and means for moving the support upwardly to press thebottom of a shoe supported thereon against said chamber bottom, wherebythe biscuit ejected through said outlet is deposited in the shoe bottomcavity and will be compressed therein by continued downward movement ofthe ejector member.

4. A shoe bottom filling machine as described in claim 1, having asecond compressor member movable longitudinally between said chamber 14sides toward. and from the first named compressor member, and means formoving the second compressor member to cooperate with the movement ofthe first compressor member in compressing said materialbeneath said.elevated ejector member.

5. A shoe bottom filling machine as described in claim 1, in which abiscuit forming wall is disposed against the chamber bottom on one sideof the outlet and the compressor member is movable toward. the otherside of said outlet and has a complemental biscuit-forming wall on itsforward. face, whereby the material compressed beneath said ejectormember is preformed between said walls before its ejection through theoutlet.

6. Ina shoebottom filling machine of the character described, a chambercontaining plastic fillingmaterial, a delivery outlet in the bottom ofsaid chamber, an ejector member movable upwardly to a position abovesaid opening and reciproca'ble downwardl toward and through saidopenirlg, means insaid chamberfor forming a biscuit of compressedfilling material immediatel beneath said knife, manually adjustablemeans for regulating the: extent of upward movement of saidmember, whereby the thickness of said biscuit may be predetermined, andmeans for depressing the knife to move the formedbiscuit downwardlythrough said opening, whereby said biscuit may be deposited in thebottom cavity of a lasted show supported against the chamber beneathsaid opening and compressed in said cavity.

'7'. A shoe bottom filling machine comprising a chamber for receivingplastic bottom filling material, the chamber having side walls and abottom provided with a delivery outlet, a ported valve plate slidablelongitudinally of said chamber bottomfor closing and opening saidoutlet, an ejector-knife movable downwardly and upwardly in said chambertoward and from said outlet, a compressor member at one end of saidchamber, a second compressor member at the opposite end of said chamber,at least one of said members being slidable longitudinally of thechamber toward and from the other member, and power driven means formoving said valve plate, knife and movable compressor member, in timedrelation, to compress the filling material in said chamber beneath saidknife while the knife is elevated, and then to open said outlet anddepress the knife to eject a biscuit of compressed bottom filler throughthe outlet and into the botom cavity of a lasted shoe supported beneathsaid oulet.

8. A shoe bottom filling machine as described in claim 7, havingmanually adjustable means for limiting the extent of upward movement ofthe ejector-knife whereby a filler biscuit f predetermined thickness isejected by said knife.

9. A shoe bottom filling machine as described in claim 7, having meansoperatively connected to said power driven means for supporting a shoebeneath said outlet and pressing the shoe bottom 15 ported on one ofsaid members, whereb compressive movement of said members preforms afiller biscuit between said walls and beneath said knife.

11. A shOe bottom filling machine comprising a chamber for receivingplastic bottom filler material, the chamber having side walls and abottom provided with a delivery outlet, a ported valve plate slidablelongitudinally of said chamber bottom for opening and closing saidoutlet, an ejector member movable downwardly and up' wardly in saidchamber toward and from said outlet, a transverse wall extending acrossthe chamber at one side of said outlet, a compressor member fixed tosaid plate and movable therewith between the side walls of the chambertoward and from the opposite side of said outlet, means for moving thevalve plate and compressor member to compress the filler materialbeneath said ejector member and between said member and said transversewall while the port of the valve plate is moved into registration withsaid outlet, and means for moving the ejector member downwardly towardand through said outlet to eject a filler biscuit therethrough.

12. A shoe bottom filling machine as described in claim 11, havingmanually adjustable means for limiting the extent of upward movement ofthe ejector member, whereby the thickness of the biscuit ejected therebymay be predetermined.

13. A shoe bottom filling machine comprising a casing adapted to receivemovable blocks within its opposite ends and to receive plastic fillingmaterial within a chamber in its central portion, the casing having abase provided with delivery opening disposed beneath said chamber, acompressor block slidable longitudinally in one end of said casing, asecond compressor block slidable longitudinally in the opposite end ofsaid casing, the forward end of one of said blocks carrying a verticallymovable slide guide having an ejector knife at its lower end, said knifebeing movable downwardly toward and through said opening when positionedthereover, and upwardly into said chamber, said blocks having opposedforward ends movable into said chamber to compress the plastic materialtherein between said ends and beneath said knife, 9, ported valve plateslidable in the bottom of the casing above said opening, andpower-driven means for moving said blocks, said ejector-knife and saidvalve plate, in timed relation, to compress the filling material beneathsaid knife and above said opening and to eject a, biscuit of compressedfilling material through the valve port and through said openin onto thebottom of a lasted shoe supported beneath said opening.

14. A shoe bottom filling machine comprising a casing adapted to receivemovable blocks within its opposite ends and to receive plastic fillingmaterial with a chamber in its central portion, the casing having a baseprovided with delivery opening disposed beneath said chamber, a,compressor block slidable longitudinally in one end of said casing, asecond compressor block slidable longitudinally in the opposite end ofsaid casing, the forward end of one of said blocks carrying a verticallymovable slide having an ejector-knife at its lower end, said knife beingmovable downwardly toward and through said opening when positionedthereover, and upwardly into said chamber, said blocks having opposedforward ends movable into said chamber to compress the plastic materialtherein between said ends and beneath said knife, a ported valve plateslidable in the bottom of the casing above said ill opening, manuallyadjustable means for limiting upward movement of the ejector-knife, andpower-driven means for moving said blocks toward each other to positionsaid knife above said opening and compress the material beneath saidknife, for moving said valve plate to bring its port over said opening,and for depressing the knife through said port and opening to eject afiller biscuit of predetermined thickness onto the bottom of a lastedshoe supported beneath said opening.

15. A shoe bottom filling machine comprising a casing adapted to receivemovable blocks within its opposite ends and to receive plastic fillingmaterial with a chamber in its central portion, the casing having a baseprovided with delivery opening disposed beneath said chamber, compressorblock slidable longitudinally in one end of said casing, a secondcompressor block slidable longitudinally in the opposite end of saidcasing, the forward end of one of said blocks carrying a verticallymovable slide having an ejector-knife at its lower end, said knife beingmovable downwardly toward and through said opening when positionedthereover, and upwardly into said chamber, said blocks having opposedforward ends movable into said chamber to compress the plastic materialtherein between said ends and beneath said knife, a ported valve plateslidable in the bottom of the casing above said opening, a shoe supportdisposed below said opening and movable upwardly toward said base,whereby the forepart bottom of a lasted shoe placed on said support maybe moved against said base to receive filling material ejected throughsaid opening, and power-driven means for actuating, in timed relation,said blocks, ejector-knife, valve plate and shoe support, to compressthe filling material beneath said knife and above said opening, then tobring the port of the valve plate over said opening and depress theejector-knife to eject a, filler biscuit through said port and opening,and then to elevate the shoe support and further depress the knife tocom press and spread the biscuit in the cavity of the shoe bottom.

16. A shoe bottom filling machine comprising a casing adapted to receivemovable blocks within its opposite ends and to receive plastic fillingmaterial with a chamber in its central portion, the casing having a baseprovided with delivery openings disposed beneath said chamber, a com-vpressor block slidable longitudinally in one end of said casing, asecond compressor block slidable longitudinally in the opposite end ofsaid casing, the forward end of one of said blocks carrying a verticallymovable slide having an ejector-knife at its lower end, said knife beingmovable downwardly toward and through said opening when positionedthereover, and upwardly into said chamber, said blocks having opposedforward ends movable into said chamber to compress the plastic materialtherein between'said ends and beneath said knife, a ported valve plateslidable in the bottom of the casing above said opening, a shoe supportdisposed below said opening and movable upwardly toward said base,whereby the forepart bottom of a lasted shoe placed on said support maybe moved against said base to receive filling material ejected throughsaid opening, and power-driven means for actuating, in timed relation,said blocks, ejector-knife, valve plate and shoe support, to compressthe filling material beneath said knife and above said open ing, then tobring the port of the valve plate over

